The sinking of Kim Nirvana-B occurred on the morning of 2 July 2015, en route from Ormoc to Pilar in Ponson Island, among the Camotes Islands.[1] It was reported that the ship, a motorized bangka,[2] was overloaded with passengers and cargo that led to it capsizing after making a sharp turn.[3]
Kim Nirvana-B was rated to carry 178 passengers and 16 crew members, but had at least 220 people on board at the time of the accident.[4][5][6] Witnesses also reported that a large number of sacks of cement, rice and fertilizer were in the cargo area of the ship.[7][8] Multiple murder charges were laid against the ferry's owner, captain and 17 crew members following the accident.[7][9]
In July 2015, the Maritime Industry Authority reported that calculations show overloading was not the cause of the ship's sinking and instead cited the "negligent operations of the captain".[10]